Daycare Owner Arrested After Cops Look Behind False Wall

Police found 26 kids in basement area
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 27, 2019 5:13 AM CST
Daycare Owner Accused of Hiding 26 Kids Behind Wall
This booking photo provided by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office shows Carla Faith.   (El Paso County Sheriff's Office via AP)

A Colorado woman accused of hiding 26 children behind a false wall at her daycare center was arrested for investigation of misdemeanor child abuse, police said Thursday. Carla Faith, 58, was arrested Monday in Colorado Springs on suspicion of two counts of reckless child abuse without injury and a single count of trying to influence a public servant, the El Paso County court records show. Three employees—Katelynne Nelson, 31; Christina Swauger, 35; and Valerie Fresquez, 24—were arrested on related charges. Faith was arrested after a six-week investigation by the city police department's Crimes Against Children Unit, Lt. James Sokolik said in a statement. She posted $3,000 bond Wednesday and is due back in court on Jan. 2.

Police went to the Play Mountain Place site on Nov. 13 after receiving complaints that the business was housing more children than the six its license allowed, the AP reports. Officers found Faith at a home on the property. After hearing noise downstairs, the officers discovered a false wall and said they discovered two adults and the children, all under 3, in the basement. Faith had told a human services worker that same day that no children were at the facility, even though a mother reported leaving her child there, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Colorado Springs Gazette. Faith also told police there was no basement and that children were away at a park, according to the affidavit. It said police found toddlers with soiled or wet diapers.

(More Colorado stories.)

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